The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, has asked that his pay be cut from $437,459 (€325,000) by 23.5 percent.

Higgins wrote to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and requested a voluntary reeducation in pay. His letter reflects the plans which the Irish Government has to introduce legislation to reduce the President’s salary to somewhere in the region of $336,491 (€250,000), according to breakingnews.ie’s reports.

On Thursday the Government confirmed that they will reduce the number of public service workers by a further 23,5000 by 2015. If they achieve this the Government will have succeeded in reducing the public-sector pay bill by 15 percent since 2008.

The Irish Government also plans to rationalize 48 quangos this year with 46 being reviewed next year. The decentralization programme (taking public offices out of the country’s capital) which was launched in 2003 will be scrapped. However the 32 projects that have already moved will not be changed.

Irish Unions have also been sent proposals of standardization annual leave, and historical local arrangements like festivals and race days are to be abolished.
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